About
"I would tell a writer to be as original and talented as you might want to be, but you also have to get a little lucky here and there. There are just times when things open up at the right place at the right time. Keep writing and try to get lucky is my advice."
In his two-hour interview, Ron Clark talks about his early life and his time in Canada as a writer for stand-up comics. He describes his big break writing for The Jimmy Dean Show, which featured Jim Henson's Muppets. He recounts writing for several other shows following that period including The Jackie Gleason Show, The Steve Allen Comedy Hour, and The Danny Kaye Show. Clark details his time writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and recalls many aspects of that show including his relationship with stars Tom and Dick Smothers, and the censorship battles the show endured with the network. He speaks of leaving the Smothers Brothers to write for Kraft Music Hall, followed by The Tim Conway Comedy Hour, That Girl, Hot L Baltimore, Ace Crawford, Private Eye, Silver Spoons, and Moonlighting. He talks about his friendship and collaborations with comedy icons Mel Brooks and Peter Sellers, and concludes by discussing professional achievements and giving advice for aspiring writers. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview in a joint venture with the Writers Guild Foundation on November 23, 2015 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Ron Clark on working with Tom and Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the censorship the show faced
Ron Clark on working with Jackie Mason in the '80s
Ron Clark on writing for The Tim Conway Comedy Hour
Ron Clark on writing for The Jackie Gleason Show
Ron Clark on advice to an aspiring television writer
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on deciding he wanted to be a writer
On selling jokes to various stand-up comedians; on his comedy albums; on his education and going to the movies in Canada
On early television work writing for cartoons; on writing for The Jimmy Dean Show and working with Jim Henson and the Muppets; on working with producer Bob Banner on The Jimmy Dean Show
On writing for The Jackie Gleason Show; on writing for The Steve Allen Comedy Hour; on writing for The Danny Kaye Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Chapter 2
On working with Tom and Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the censorship the show faced; on the guests of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the behind the scenes roles of Tom and Dick Smothers; on writing the sketches for the show including for cast member Pat Paulson
On The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour tackling current events and the language on the show; on the legacy of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour; on his writing partner Sam Bobrick
On writing for Kraft Music Hall; on writing for The Tim Conway Comedy Hour; on writing for The Paul Lynde Show and That Girl
On writing for Hot L Baltimore; on writing for Ace Crawford, Private Eye; on writing for Silver Spoons and Moonlighting
On working with Ed. Weinberger; on working with Mel Brooks on the feature "Silent Movie"
Chapter 3
On working with Alan King and working on various Mel Brooks films; on working with Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers on "Revenge of the Pink Panther"; on his writing process
On his experience with the Writers Guild; on mentors in his career; on professional achievements and his regrets, advice to aspiring writers, and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Ace Crawford, Private Eye
Ron Clark on writing for Ace Crawford, Private Eye
Danny Kaye Show, The
Ron Clark on writing for The Danny Kaye Show
Hot L Baltimore
Ron Clark on writing for Hot L Baltimore
Jackie Gleason Show, The
Ron Clark on writing for The Jackie Gleason Show
Jimmy Dean Show, The
Ron Clark on writing for The Jimmy Dean Show and working with Jim Henson and the Muppets
Ron Clark on working with producer Bob Banner on The Jimmy Dean Show
Kraft Music Hall, The
Ron Clark on writing for Kraft Music Hall
Moonlighting
Ron Clark on writing for Moonlighting
Silver Spoons
Ron Clark on writing for Silver Spoons
Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The
Ron Clark on working with Tom and Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the censorship the show faced
Ron Clark on the guests of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the behind the scenes roles of Tom and Dick Smothers
Ron Clark on writing the sketches for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour including for cast member Pat Paulson
Ron Clark on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour tackling current events and the language on the show
Ron Clark on the legacy of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Ron Clark on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Steve Allen Comedy Hour, The
Ron Clark on writing for The Steve Allen Comedy Hour
Tim Conway Comedy Hour, The
Ron Clark on writing for The Tim Conway Comedy Hour
Topics
Advice
Ron Clark on advice to an aspiring television writer
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Ron Clark on working with Tom and Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the censorship the show faced
Ron Clark on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour tackling current events and the language on the show
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Ron Clark on mentors in his career
Television Industry
Ron Clark on working with Tom and Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the censorship the show faced
Ron Clark on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour tackling current events and the language on the show
Ron Clark on advice to an aspiring television writer
Professions
Writers
Ron Clark on his writing process
Ron Clark on advice to an aspiring television writer
Genres
Comedy Series
Ron Clark on writing for Hot L Baltimore
Ron Clark on writing for Ace Crawford, Private Eye
Ron Clark on writing for Silver Spoons
Ron Clark on writing for Moonlighting
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Ron Clark on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Ron Clark on writing for Kraft Music Hall
Ron Clark on writing for The Tim Conway Comedy Hour
Ron Clark on writing for The Jimmy Dean Show
Ron Clark on writing for The Jackie Gleason Show
Ron Clark on writing for The Steve Allen Comedy Hour
Ron Clark on writing for The Danny Kaye Show
Ron Clark on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
People
Steve Allen
Ron Clark on writing for The Steve Allen Comedy Hour
Bob Banner
Ron Clark on working with producer Bob Banner on The Jimmy Dean Show
Mel Brooks
Ron Clark on working with Mel Brooks on the feature "Silent Movie"
Ron Clark on working on various Mel Brooks films
Tim Conway
Ron Clark on writing for The Tim Conway Comedy Hour
Ron Clark on writing for Ace Crawford, Private Eye starring Tim Conway
Jimmy Dean
Ron Clark on writing for The Jimmy Dean Show and working with Jim Henson and the Muppets
Blake Edwards
Ron Clark on working with Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers on "Revenge of the Pink Panther"
Jackie Gleason
Ron Clark on writing for The Jackie Gleason Show
Jim Henson
Ron Clark on writing for The Jimmy Dean Show and working with Jim Henson and the Muppets
Danny Kaye
Ron Clark on writing for The Danny Kaye Show
Alan King
Ron Clark on working with Alan King
Paul Lynde
Ron Clark on writing for The Paul Lynde Show
Jackie Mason with Emerson College
Ron Clark on working with Jackie Mason in the '80s
Peter Sellers
Ron Clark on working with Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers on "Revenge of the Pink Panther"
Dick Smothers
Ron Clark on working with Tom and Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the censorship the show faced
Ron Clark on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Tom Smothers
Ron Clark on working with Tom and Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the censorship the show faced
Ron Clark on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Ed. Weinberger
Ron Clark on working with Ed. Weinberger